Last Night? Something Different.

Last night, I agreed on a whim, to go hang out with my new friend, Megan and her gaggle of ladyfriends. Megan has been inviting me out to the Wednesday Night Burgers at Jury's with her friends, for weeks now. But I wasn't sure what her intentions were and I'm also sort of retarded about hanging out with people that I don't know. So, I've made excuses not to go, every week.

Last night, however, I just decided, "Eh, what the hell? Why not go out and hang out with some new folks?" Plus, I really like the burgers at Jury's.

Well, schedules got mixed up and I missed them at Jury's. I got home too late to join them. I texted Megan my apologies and went home for a quiet night, home alone with the dog. She texted me back and invited me out to some "dive bar" with her and her "girlfriends". The idea of being the one dude in a gaggle of slightly intoxicated ladies was too irresistible. I hopped a cab and joined them at the little dive bar at the corner of Damen and Foster.

And yes, because I was the one boy (for a while, a few others joined us later) I DID get tons of attention from these girls, initially. Mary (the chain-smoker in the corner), Mallory (who reminded me a little bit of Julia Roberts, only with Tina Fey glasses) and her sister, Shelby (who reminded me a bit of Mallory, only without glasses and also they don't really look alike anymore). And my friend Megan, who, as it turns out, is just one of those really friendly people who likes meeting new people. So, I wasn't having any moves made on me and that relaxed me considerably.

I don't spent a whole lot of time hanging out with people who are not already in my social circles. I think it's the lazy part of my personality. Or maybe I really am not that comfortable around new people. Whatever the reason, I can't remember the last time I was in A.) a new bar that I've never been to before with B.) An entire social circle of people who all knew each other and only one of them, knew me. It's just an exceptionally rare occasion.

In the end, I had a great time with them. I ended up talking with pretty much everyone. Mary confided workplace gossip in me (and the other girls). Megan and I talked at length about two improviser friends of ours, that we both really like. Shelby and I didn't talk too much. I hear she's typically a pretty quiet person. And Mallory got out her ipod and played her favorite artist, Regina Spektor, for me. She skipped from song to song, giving me a tour of Ms.Spektor's work.

And there, in the bar, listening to this very, very talented Russian-American pianist sing her love ballads, isolated from the bars' jukebox music and the conversations that were flowing around me, observing these strangers laughing and drinking and gesturing wildly with their hands, and ash their cigarettes, I felt welcomed and comfortable and was genuinely happy to be there.

Last night, I took a step outside of my usual, comfortable circle and it turned out to be a really good decision.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go research Regina Spektor cds.

Cheers,
Mr.B